Purple loosestrife pollen

Lythrum salicaria

Grey green, in the green range.

FloweringJune to September

PollenGood

NectarVery good

SeasonSummer, Autumn

WhereWaterside, Garden, Waste and verge

A first rate waterside source, with green loads that give it away on the landing board.

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in flower — Photo: Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY 4.0. Wikimedia Commons

Easy to mistake for these

Closest pollen colours in our set, measured the same way the pollen identifier scores a match. Colour alone will not settle it, so check the flowering months and what is actually growing near your hives.

Traveller’s joyJuly to September AlderFebruary to March AshApril to May OakApril to May BerberisApril to May

Confused with in the field

Noted by name in our own records, rather than worked out from the colour.

Rosebay willowherbBlue green to grey blue

Out at about the same time

BorageBlue grey BrambleGreenish grey Californian poppyBright orange Common limeYellow to greenish DogwoodPale creamy yellow ElderPale greyish yellow

Saw a load like this going in?

Sample the colour against all 89 plants, then keep a forage record per hive.

Pollen identifier